Dodgy Holiday Company Scam
Discussion
Just wanted to let others know about what happened to my folks last weekend.
Last Sunday the phone goes and my mother goes and answers it. On the other end is an American who tries to sell her a holiday, it's a very good deal, etc, and mu mother is very interested. Obviously you hear of lots of scams so she asks for a ABTA number. He happily tells her it, then gives her the telephone number of an English travel agent they use, and also their web site.
So we call the English site and some woman answers it and confirms they use this US company so all going well. We then look on the ABTA website and the code checks out fine. However, the US guy on the phone wants the payment details there and then because he can only call UK numbers for a limited time or something. So I'm a bit dubious and ask for their website which he firstly claims to be under construction but then gives the address. This also checks out.
Guy is still on the phone pressuring my Mum for her CC details which she doesn't want to give out. On the website he says you can pay on-line which I advise my Mum to do because she gets insurance from her CC people for on-line transactions. US guy isn't happy and starts becoming very hard sell giving it the limited time opportunity and so on. Mum sticks to her guns and says she wants to pay on-line to which the US guy suddenly goes "Fair enough" and puts the phone down. Obviously they are using the ABTA company as a way to get people to trust them.
I just wanted to let others know that this scam is occouring. Therefore unfortunately it does pay to be careful.
Last Sunday the phone goes and my mother goes and answers it. On the other end is an American who tries to sell her a holiday, it's a very good deal, etc, and mu mother is very interested. Obviously you hear of lots of scams so she asks for a ABTA number. He happily tells her it, then gives her the telephone number of an English travel agent they use, and also their web site.
So we call the English site and some woman answers it and confirms they use this US company so all going well. We then look on the ABTA website and the code checks out fine. However, the US guy on the phone wants the payment details there and then because he can only call UK numbers for a limited time or something. So I'm a bit dubious and ask for their website which he firstly claims to be under construction but then gives the address. This also checks out.
Guy is still on the phone pressuring my Mum for her CC details which she doesn't want to give out. On the website he says you can pay on-line which I advise my Mum to do because she gets insurance from her CC people for on-line transactions. US guy isn't happy and starts becoming very hard sell giving it the limited time opportunity and so on. Mum sticks to her guns and says she wants to pay on-line to which the US guy suddenly goes "Fair enough" and puts the phone down. Obviously they are using the ABTA company as a way to get people to trust them.
I just wanted to let others know that this scam is occouring. Therefore unfortunately it does pay to be careful.
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff